Peter’s confession of Jesus is a pivotal moment in Matthew’s gospel (Mt. 16:13-20). Prior to the confession, Jesus was tight lipped about his mission. After Peter’s declaration statement, Jesus begins opening up about his suffering and death at the hands of the Jewish religious leaders. Peter’s confession is essential to understanding Jesus’ mission.
Jesus and the twelve find themselves in Gentile territory, named after Augustus Caesar and originally named for the god, Pan. By the time of Jesus, the area retained its tribute name to Caesar but Philip of Macedon is given nod as well. Our Bibles says they were in Caesarea Philippi. Here, in a culture committed to Roman rule and paganism, Jesus pins his twelve disciples down on his identity. Peter’s response, speaking for the others and hopefully for us, is clear and decisive. “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (16:16).
Two statements emerge from Peter’s confession. First, he calls Jesus the Christ. The Greek version of the Hebrew word, Messiah, which carries far more punch. Messiah means, “the Anointed One,” and the Messianic overtones are obvious. Jesus is the coming Messiah whom Scripture predicted and confirmed. Secondly, he calls Jesus, the Son of God. While the phrase has divine implications, Peter underscores that God is a living God, not dead. Thus, Peter’s confession holds both theological and political ramifications: Jesus is the Divine King, not Caesar.
Beyond his prediction that he is headed to Jerusalem to suffer (16:21), Jesus makes statements that have baffled Bible students and scholars for centuries. What is Peter’s role in the development of the church, and why has he been given the keys of the kingdom? What is the meaning of “church”? Is it an assembly or an organization?
The more important question is his mixing of metaphors in regards to the gate (16:18), “. . . and the gates of Hades/hell will not overcome it.” Gates are for defensive purposes and do not for attacking. They mark off territorial boundaries. They intimidate their opponent, stand still and cannot move. How will gates even try to “overcome” God’s church? Also, are these the gates of Hades (NIV) or the gates of hell (KJV)? While Hades was the place of the dead with no evil intent, hell is always associated with a place to punish evil doers. The NIV maintains the Greek, while the KJV interprets Hades as a place of evil. But the “place of the dead” or a “place of death” contextually seems better to understand Matthew 16:18 than a place where evil is punished. The NIV is probably correct with “Hades” because the theme of death begins to unfold.
For the first time in Matthew’s gospel Jesus explicitly tells his twelve disciples about his forthcoming suffering and death in Jerusalem (16:21). When that happens, the story looks to end and the movement will die. Without its shepherd, the people will scatter like sheep. But death will not be the final say with Jesus. He will overcome. While the tomb will be sealed, he’ll break that seal and the stone will roll away. Death will not hold him captive.
As the disciples move forward in a post-ascension world, they will face their own suffering, and each of them, minus John, will be horrifically executed for following Jesus. The church itself will endure the full onslaught of persecution. “Murderous threats” (Act. 9:1) not only sounds ominous, but accurately describe what discipleship meant. The exhortation, “be faithful till death” (Rev. 2:10b) wasn’t a warm fuzzy motto or cheesy bumper sticker, but a stark reminder of the total cost of confessing, “Jesus is Lord.”
Death has a way of not only disrupting our lives, but also disrupting our churches. When someone dies, even of “natural causes,” we question the church’s future and stability. How will we survive without them? How do we move forward without them? In a context of persecution, lives are on the line. Increased anxiety is felt like a 7.5 tremor on the Richter scale. Jesus’ words assure his followers that death will not be the final say in the church’s future. And in a time when so much uncertainty has gripped people in fear, Jesus’ words bring reassurance. Not even the gates of death will overcome his church.
Soli Deo Gloria!
(i.e., only God is glorified!)